That’s it! I give up! Let someone else do it! I’m done! Is this how your Wednesday’s going? Do you want to drop everything? Want to quit? Want to let it all go? Hang in there, Friday is coming!
Is it one of those weeks? Is it on the heels of a hard week last week? Perhaps it’s on the heels of two or three hard weeks? Perhaps it’s simply one hard week in a hard season? You feel like letting go? That, my friend, is precisely what you should do. Why do you think Jesus Take the Wheel is so popular?
We think we’re in control of things. We do. That’s why we tend to do things in our own strength. We even plan things in our own strength, while God says we should say, Lord willing we will do this or that. Contrary to God’s instruction we sail along in our own strength. That is until things fall apart. That’s when we see the vanity in our own strength.
God says unless you become like a little child, you’ll not enter the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 18:1-4. A child has the expectation that the father will provide the needs.
There’s a difference between needs and wants. Wants will get a temper tantrum. Needs are basic. Allow God to search your heart and separate the wheat from the chaff…the needs from the wants. Then when his peace overflows you allow him to lift your head to see him, where your help comes. Then walk with him, in his strength in all areas of your life. You will then see a life that is for your good and for his glory.
I always tell the kids, “Keep Christ in the boat of your life!” Referring to the Mark 6:45-52.
- The Disciples were sent to the other side of the waters.
- A storm came.
- They rowed for hours against the storm in their own strength, getting nowhere.
- Christ watched for hours.
- He walked out to them in the storm and on the sea and he was about to pass them by.
- He didn’t get into the boat, with them in the situation, until they cried out.
- As soon as he entered the boat, the storm abated they were on the other side.
Like the Disciples, we were sent into this world. As Christ prayed before the storm, he prayed for us in John 17. And he’s now at the father’s right hand, praying for us, Romans 8:34. The disciples rowed in their own strength for hours. They were getting nowhere but were increasing in fear and decreasing in strength. Christ waited for them to call out to him before he would enter the situation. We so often shift into auto pilot (much like those fishermen) because things feel natural to us. The storms come and we strive in our own strength. When we call out to Christ he enters the situation. Once Christ is there peace comes and we reach our intended destination.
Look to Christ. Drop the oars of your own strength. Call out to him. As a little child, look to your father in all your moments.
Today is Wednesday but take courage, Friday is coming. More importantly Christ has overcome the world. And will return to make all things good again!